Ex-Arsenal star makes bold Liverpool title prediction ahead of game vs Premier League leaders

Liverpool travels to Arsenal in the Premier League this week, looking to cut the 14-point gap between the sides that has emerged in the standings after a tough spell for Arne Slot

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

Former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue says Liverpool cannot be ruled out of the Premier League title race just yet, despite Arne Slot's men being 14 points behind the Gunners.

Meeting at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday, even a Liverpool win would do little to stop Arsenal from being the favorite to get over the line under Mikel Arteta. But Eboue isn't getting ahead of himself just yet.

"I think we’ve got four teams still in the title race this season," the Ivorian said. "I think Arsenal and Manchester City will obviously be up there, but I don’t think Aston Villa or Liverpool are out of it yet.

"Aston Villa are so close in points to the top of the table, and they’ve done incredible up to this point this season. It’s going to be tough, for sure, but I don’t think you can rule them out of the title race, based on what I’ve seen so far.

"I'd also say the same for Liverpool... yes, they started bad, but you can see they’re finding a bit more form now.

"Look, they’re already behind Arsenal in the table, but this is such a busy period in the season, and that gap can close drastically in the space of a couple of weeks — especially when you consider Liverpool play Arsenal later this week.

"You might look at the table right now and say if Liverpool win the league this season, then something has gone very, very wrong for Arsenal. But this is a very, very hard league, where any team is capable of taking points off you.

Arne Slot and Mikel Arteta before Arsenal vs Liverpool in the Premier League.(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

"For me, Arsenal don’t have enough players to compete for every trophy, and so for that reason I’m scared... don’t get me wrong, if Arsenal keep doing what they’re doing, then I think they’ll win the league.

"But if they start to slip up and drop points, then I think it’s going to be very, very difficult for them — especially when they’re going up against a team like Liverpool, who have just won the league last season."

Even though he isn't convinced about discounting Liverpool yet, Eboue does think Arsenal will find a way to win the league title. If the Gunners don't do it, he believes there could be a lot of pressure on Arteta.

"I still have to say Arsenal win the league," Eboue, speaking to Ladbrokes, added. "The club is my family and I’ve loved them for so long now... I really hope that this is the year they win the title.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice.(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

"They [Arsenal] have to win the title, and when you look at the squad they currently have, it’s probably their best chance of doing it in the last few years.

"Look, they have been so close for three years now, and I think that if they don’t win the league this year, it’s going to be very, very hard for [Mikel] Arteta.

"He’s under pressure now because the fans have had years of watching their team playing really good football without anything to show for it.

"Now, when you look at the position they’re currently in, and the fact they’ve come so close for three years in a row… if they don’t win, then supporters are going to be very, very sad about it.

"He’s already under pressure, because there’s an expectation now for his team to win the league, which maybe hasn’t been there before. But they’re also doing really well in the Champions League, and are one of the favourites to win that competition.

"So if they finish the season with neither of those trophies, I think it’s going to be really difficult for him, because these supporters can’t keep waiting."

Liverpool.com says: There is no chance that the Reds win the title from here. Even if they win every game, which they won't, there will still be at least one team ahead of them, even if that isn't Arsenal.